Chapter 4: Birthday (1)
[System: 2 years, 2 months, 1 day]
[Template system: 5 years, 2 months, 1 day]
Hm... still two more years until my system awakens.
I wonder where my parents are. It's rare for them to be gone this long. I should stroll around town until they're back.
"Mo Fan! Mo Fan!! Look here, it's me." Hm, Chen Fan, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be helping your father now? Don't tell me you ran away. "No, no, I didn't run away. Today I don't have any work to do. It's a special day." Special day? What special day? "It's a secret."
[I wonder what special day it is. Chen Fan is the son of a wealthy merchant, with connections to aristocrats and the royal family. His older brother is an inner disciple of the Divine Vulture Sect. By all logic, he shouldn't be talking to someone like me, from a middle-class family.]
"Mo Fan, why are you spacing out when I'm talking to you? Did you hear anything I said?" Yes, I heard everything. "Hmm, I wonder about it. Anyway, let's go to a place I want to visit." Ok.
So, where are we going? "You'll know once we get there."
[After walking for 5 minutes]
{ The Grand Aviary Emporium }
What do you want to buy in the continent's best market?
[Yes, the continent's best shop. The Grand Aviary Emporium isn't just a shop; it's a sprawling marketplace that spans dimensions, with branches in every city and realm within the cultivation world. Cultivators and mortals gather here for rare treasures, powerful artifacts, and essential resources.]
"Why did we come here? Well, I want to buy a gift for someone." Ok, let's go inside.
"Hello, customers, what do you want to buy here?" "I want to buy a gift for someone. And Mo Fan, why don't you look around while I shop?" Ok.
"Customer, please come this way, since you want to buy a gift." And he's off. Well, let's see what this branch of the Grand Aviary Emporium has to offer.
Hm, techniques, pills, weapons... so many shops. Let's look at the techniques shop and see if there's anything useful for me. [After all, I can buy anything with unlimited money.]
"Customer, what kind of technique are you looking for?" I want a technique to hide my cultivation base. "Hm, a technique to hide cultivation? We have three available."
"It's enough, show me the techniques. And while you're at it, show me three cultivation techniques each for soul, body, and spiritual cultivation." Ok, sir. [Looks like a rich customer has arrived.]
The techniques to hide the cultivation base are:
- Spiritual Veil Technique - 500 middle-grade spirit stones
- False Qi Resonance Method - 630 middle-grade spirit stones
- Ephemeral Qi Dispersal Technique - 700 middle-grade spirit stones
Physical Cultivation Techniques:
- Iron Body Forging - 70 lower-grade spirit stones
- Elemental Resilience Training - 150 lower-grade spirit stones
- Natural Harmonization Method - 270 lower-grade spirit stones
Qi Cultivation Techniques:
- Qi Circulation Visualization - 300 lower-grade spirit stones
- Microcosmic Orbit Meditation - 400 lower-grade spirit stones
- Qi-Breath Infusion Technique - 350 lower-grade spirit stones
Soul Cultivation Techniques:
- Soul Resonance Fusion - 600 middle-grade spirit stones
- Soul Harmony Synchronization - 770 middle-grade spirit stones
- Soul Reflection Meditation - 700 middle-grade spirit stones
"These are the techniques I've chosen based on your level." Thank you. And can you total up the cost? "Sure, the total is 3,900 middle-grade spirit stones and 1,540 lower-grade spirit stones." Sir, only that much. [Throws a spatial ring at him] The money is there. "Thank you, sir. Please come again."
With these techniques, I can begin my cultivation without my parents knowing. It's about time I return home. I wonder if Chen Fan is finished? Let's wait for him at the entrance.
"Mo Fan, have you finished looking around?" Yes, and what about you? Have you finished your things? "Yes, let's go home now." Yeah, let's go home.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________Revised version
System Status: 2 years, 2 months, 1 day remaining
Template System Status: 5 years, 2 months, 1 day remaining
With two more years before my system awakens, I have ample time to make use of my current resources. As I pondered my situation, I noticed the unusual absence of my parents. It's rare for them to be gone for this long. I decided to explore the town until their return.
"Mo Fan! Mo Fan!! Look here, it's me."
I turned to see Chen Fan, his voice cutting through my thoughts. "Chen Fan? What are you doing here?" I asked, a hint of surprise in my tone. Chen Fan, the son of a wealthy merchant with ties to aristocrats and the royal family, shouldn't be mingling with someone from a middle-class background like myself.
"No, no, I didn't run away," Chen Fan reassured with a grin. "I don't have any work today. It's a special day."
"A special day? What's so special about it?"
"It's a secret," he replied mysteriously.
[I wondered what this special day could be. Chen Fan's family connections meant he typically wouldn't associate with someone of my status.]
"Mo Fan, why are you spacing out when I'm talking to you? Did you hear anything I said?" Chen Fan's voice broke through my thoughts.
"Yes, I heard everything," I said, intrigued. "So, where are we going?"
"You'll find out when we get there," he said, leading the way.
After a short walk of about five minutes, we arrived at a grand structure.
The Grand Aviary Emporium
"Wow," I muttered as I gazed at the impressive market. The Grand Aviary Emporium was no ordinary shop; it was a sprawling marketplace that spanned dimensions, with branches in every city and realm across the cultivation world. Here, cultivators and mortals alike came for rare treasures, powerful artifacts, and essential resources.
"So, why did we come here?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"I want to buy a gift for someone," Chen Fan explained. "Why don't you look around while I shop?"
"Sure," I agreed, stepping into the emporium.
"Hello, customers. How may I assist you today?" a shopkeeper greeted us.
"I'm here to buy a gift," Chen Fan said. "Mo Fan, why don't you explore while I handle my shopping?"
"Alright," I replied and began to wander.
In the vast expanse of the emporium, I found a plethora of shops offering everything from techniques to pills and weapons. My interest was drawn to the techniques shop. With my unlimited funds, I could afford anything I needed.
"Welcome, customer. What kind of technique are you looking for?" the shopkeeper asked.
"I need a technique to hide my cultivation base," I said, knowing this would be crucial for my secret cultivation.
"We have three techniques that can serve this purpose," the shopkeeper responded, presenting the options:
Spiritual Veil Technique - 500 middle-grade spirit stonesFalse Qi Resonance Method - 630 middle-grade spirit stonesEphemeral Qi Dispersal Technique - 700 middle-grade spirit stones
In addition to these, I requested:
Physical Cultivation Techniques
Iron Body Forging - 70 lower-grade spirit stonesElemental Resilience Training - 150 lower-grade spirit stonesNatural Harmonization Method - 270 lower-grade spirit stones
Qi Cultivation Techniques
Qi Circulation Visualization - 300 lower-grade spirit stonesMicrocosmic Orbit Meditation - 400 lower-grade spirit stonesQi-Breath Infusion Technique - 350 lower-grade spirit stones
Soul Cultivation Techniques
Soul Resonance Fusion - 600 middle-grade spirit stonesSoul Harmony Synchronization - 770 middle-grade spirit stonesSoul Reflection Meditation - 700 middle-grade spirit stones
"Let me see the total cost," I requested.
"Certainly," the shopkeeper said. "The total comes to 3,900 middle-grade spirit stones and 1,540 lower-grade spirit stones."
I nodded, reaching into my spatial ring. "Here's the payment."
"Thank you, sir. Please come again," the shopkeeper said, clearly impressed.
With my purchase complete, I headed back to the entrance to meet Chen Fan. I was eager to return home and begin integrating these techniques into my cultivation routine.
"Mo Fan, have you finished looking around?" Chen Fan asked as he reappeared, his expression one of satisfaction.
"Yes, and how about you? Are you done with your shopping?" I inquired.
"Yes, let's head back now," Chen Fan said, and together we left the Grand Aviary Emporium.